You say "where lawn turf used to be laid"
Have you taken off the grass/ turf / top layer already?

After the turf is removed it will be well compacted so it will need digging over and maybe topsoil added. If not then I would certainly add plenty of compost to the soil as I dig it over to improve its condition.

I am having to remove as I go along - turf is wall to wall! The ground is really rocky underneath and clay. To be honest it is too much of a project for me , I don't really know where to start. My last garden was small and looked lovely when we moved! But this one is huge compared to that, totally open around the house on 3 sides. Windy, overlooked and lifeless - not a single plant was in it when we moved in just over a year ago.

Just looks like the borders are quite below the lawn level - if that makes sense. Should the border soil be above lawn level for drainage/ best view of plants?

laura, you should consider hiring a turf cutter for a day - and possibly a rotovator too, that'll make the job so much faster/easier.
Once you've cut the turf, lay it upside down and the grass will die off leaving just the earth.
Dig/rotovate in lots of manure/compost/fresh topsoil (that'll also help take up the levels of the borders).

Sounds like you need a bit of help. How about asking locally if there is a part-time gardener who could do a morning a week. I dont mean a gardening company but someone who wouldnt mind doing a couple of hours. Shouldn't be very expensive and most localities have quite a few people doing that.

I hope that you are not dumping the turf! I would do one of two things with it. One, stack neatly, upside down in a corner and leave it to rot down for a couple of years or, two, lay it aside, fork the base where you have lifted it from and then relay the turf upside down.
Wether you remove the turf or turn it over I would get some topsoil and humus to raise the level of the beds a bitand make a nice growing medium.
Inverglen's suggestion is a sound one. I cut the grass for an old lady in the village. It takes me just over an hour and she gives me a tenner for this.

The turf cutting are currently collecting into a life size Bennachie mountain - which my 4 hens spend most of the day trying to conquer! I will go put a wee ad up in the shop and see if there is anyone in the village.

Is a tonne of topsoil too much? They seem to only want to deliver that amount to my back of beyond village :)

Guess that depends on how much borders you're filling :) you can get bags of topsoil in the GCs but they'll work out pricey. You might need a fair bit if you want to raise the heights of your borders like you mentioned initially.
How much are they charging for 1ton?

Donna - to AB it is £112.50 - that seem ok? Border topsoil - basic topsoil is £100

Look for it locally, Laura. The soil should not cast a lot, it is the transportation that is expensive. And a tonne is not a very large heap at all. I would have said that £100 is far too much, I yhink that I pay about £40 to £50 for quarried agregate. The soil that you will buy is what they excavate when building new houses so is, effectively, waste.

I had a quick google and the cheapest I saw it was £109. Dobbies say £120 I think, I wonder how many loyalty points you'd get on that - don't think you get discount on stuff like that though maybe just plants.
have you gone through the YP? See if anyone local can deliver?
Theres a place at New Deer keenanrecycling 01771 644883 ... hmm they do bark too (might have to give them a call)
Have you tried GPH Inverurie? Maybe Rowebb in Pitmedden (they're maybe more hard lanscaping though)

just noticed there's a whole section in the YP - "turf and soil supplies"!

WIll go have a look! Are you in Oldmeldrum? The photo of your house looks familiar :)

Organisations that advertise in YP and other places on the web are permanent businesses. I was thinking more of local builders developing areas of land for housing. There is often a mountain of soil in a corner of the site. It may not be be quite the best but it is worth asking if they will sell some and how much they will charge.

You're right to say not the best quality ... it's NO surprise the farmer sold our plots for houses, the soil is shocking!! I would imagine most developments are the same, farmers etc wouldn't sell good agricultural land otherwise :)
Laura ... we're in Udny :)